Zidane: No Regrets

I reacted badly and I would like to apologise for it, I would like to apologise because a lot of children were watching the match. I do apologise but I don’t regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.

The world finally heard Zidane’s side after he appeared on French television saying that Materrazi said insulting things to his mother who is in the hospital and sister — once, twice, thrice.

Zidane says: He just put his hand onto my shirt and I told him to stop. I told him that if he wanted it I could give it to him at the end of the match. Then he said very harsh words to me and repeated them several times. I left but then I went back towards him and things went very fast. The words he said concerned my mother and sister. I heard them once, then twice, and the third time I couldn’t control myself. I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would have rather been knocked down than hear that. Afterwards I explained to the referee that I had been provoked, but my behaviour is not forgivable.

It was an emotional call from Zidane but something he was aware of. I would not blame him and if it happened outside a World Cup game he would have done worse, I would have done worse If I was in that situation.

We could not blame that incident to France’s loss in the World Cup, we’ll never know really; but what I know is I stand by my belief that the World Deserves Zidane’s Headbutt.

Zidane is going to attend investigative hearings by FIFA — ‘I will go and I will tell everything I have just said. The reaction is always punished but if there is no provocation there is no reaction. The guilty person is the one who provokes. If I reacted that way, it is because something bad happened. Do you really believe that 10 minutes before the end of my career I would be able to make such a bad gesture? The provocation was very serious. ‘This is a decision I have made and I will not go back on it. I will not play again.

Materazzi defended himself though by saying: I didn’t mention anything about religion, politics or racism,’ he said. I didn’t insult his mother. I lost my mother when I was 15 years old and still get emotional when I talk about it. Naturally, I didn’t know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best. Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot.

Great for Materazzi, Zidane is his hero and what better way for him to be remembered as the one who broke Zidane’s limit.

There are speculations that if proven guilty, FIFA may strip Zidane of his Golden Ball Award. That’s not right, and it doesn’t make his performance less.

[tags]FIFA World Cup, World Cup, World Cup Germany, Germany, France, Zinedine Zidane[/tags]